Villopoto makes it look easy

Published: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 7:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 11, 2013 at 12:47 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Talk about your exclamation points.

All the talk heading into Saturday's Daytona Supercross focused on the strength and balance throughout the field of favorites. Everyone was healthy, everyone seemed to be running well in recent weeks, everyone was here.

A bruising, air-tight fight was expected by all who regularly follow this stuff.

But Ryan Villopoto kicked those expectations to the curb. There's so much happening at any given time during a Supercross evening, it's basically impossible for anyone to stink up the show, but Villopoto tried his best, leaping across the finish more than 5 seconds ahead of second-place Ryan Dungey.

Cycle legend Ricky Carmichael, who designed the dirt layout, was fond of calling it “a man's track.” Villopoto, post-race, suggested it had been “a man's race.” Daytona is different in the Supercross world because it's the most physically demanding track these guys tackle each year.

Villopoto, in relation to the competition, made it look easy. But the drained look on his face, and the fatigue showing in his body language, confirmed it was grinding work. Of the racers who have collected three (and counting) Daytona checkered flags, all had to endure in some form or fashion. Villopoto certainly paid for his ascension into Daytona's all-time stratosphere.

“Daytona is a unique place,” he said. “To win it is pretty awesome. It's not like any other racing. If you can get a win here, it shows you're definitely one of the best. It feels really good.”

In describing his Saturday philosophy, Villopoto probably summed up the philosophy of every rider in this sport – it's a game plan that doesn't exactly invite extremely long shelf lives among the regulars.

“We all keep pushing,” he said. “You know that (the others) are gonna keep pushing, so you keep pushing too. They're gonna keep pushing to the end.”

Overall, it wasn't just a great night for Villopoto, but a great night for the Speedway as it kicked off Cycle Week.

Free of last year's weather handicaps, Daytona's marketing machinery cranked out a show worthy of P.T. Barnum, Don King and any other promoter who knew how to grab your attention – yes, you can throw Big Bill France into that category.

You look at the Daytona tri-oval on a night like Saturday – particularly the 18-degree banking that features the famous start/finish line – and you see wall-to-wall humanity. Above them, in the main tower bleachers and spilling into those grandstands on each side, more people. A lot more.

Through the past decade of explosive growth in Supercross racing – especially in big-arena ticket sales – a lot of us continued to write it off as a niche sport with a nice little off-Broadway profile. But Supercross has continued to accelerate as so many other sports-entertainment vehicles slid over into the right lane, just hoping to maintain whatever momentum it can.

So, assuming the question hasn't already been asked in NASCAR's corner offices, maybe it's time: What can be learned from Supercross? And more specifically, what ideas can be stolen? Both have that week-to-week continuity, and both are blessed with a variety of personalities and the requisite rivalries that develop naturally.

But there's a definite difference to “game day.” Supercross fits in perfectly with our ever-shortening attention spans. Two series, four heat races, a pair of “last chance qualifiers,” two main events. All in a three-hour window, give or take.

Would it serve big-league auto racing to steal such a recipe? When you look at overall national numbers – including those all-important network payouts – it would be best to leave things as they are. But as for fan engagement and passion – also all-important because that eventually plays a big role in those network payouts – it's worth the discussion.

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Don't forget your “Daily Willie” among the blogs at News-Journalonline.com

<p><b>DAYTONA BEACH -- </b> Talk about your exclamation points.</p><p>All the talk heading into Saturday's Daytona Supercross focused on the strength and balance throughout the field of favorites. Everyone was healthy, everyone seemed to be running well in recent weeks, everyone was here. </p><p>A bruising, air-tight fight was expected by all who regularly follow this stuff. </p><p>But Ryan Villopoto kicked those expectations to the curb. There's so much happening at any given time during a Supercross evening, it's basically impossible for anyone to stink up the show, but Villopoto tried his best, leaping across the finish more than 5 seconds ahead of second-place Ryan Dungey.</p><p>Cycle legend Ricky Carmichael, who designed the dirt layout, was fond of calling it “a man's track.” Villopoto, post-race, suggested it had been “a man's race.” Daytona is different in the Supercross world because it's the most physically demanding track these guys tackle each year. </p><p>Villopoto, in relation to the competition, made it look easy. But the drained look on his face, and the fatigue showing in his body language, confirmed it was grinding work. Of the racers who have collected three (and counting) Daytona checkered flags, all had to endure in some form or fashion. Villopoto certainly paid for his ascension into Daytona's all-time stratosphere.</p><p>“Daytona is a unique place,” he said. “To win it is pretty awesome. It's not like any other racing. If you can get a win here, it shows you're definitely one of the best. It feels really good.”</p><p>In describing his Saturday philosophy, Villopoto probably summed up the philosophy of every rider in this sport – it's a game plan that doesn't exactly invite extremely long shelf lives among the regulars.</p><p>“We all keep pushing,” he said. “You know that (the others) are gonna keep pushing, so you keep pushing too. They're gonna keep pushing to the end.”</p><p>Overall, it wasn't just a great night for Villopoto, but a great night for the Speedway as it kicked off Cycle Week.</p><p>Free of last year's weather handicaps, Daytona's marketing machinery cranked out a show worthy of P.T. Barnum, Don King and any other promoter who knew how to grab your attention – yes, you can throw Big Bill France into that category. </p><p>You look at the Daytona tri-oval on a night like Saturday – particularly the 18-degree banking that features the famous start/finish line – and you see wall-to-wall humanity. Above them, in the main tower bleachers and spilling into those grandstands on each side, more people. A lot more.</p><p>Through the past decade of explosive growth in Supercross racing – especially in big-arena ticket sales – a lot of us continued to write it off as a niche sport with a nice little off-Broadway profile. But Supercross has continued to accelerate as so many other sports-entertainment vehicles slid over into the right lane, just hoping to maintain whatever momentum it can. </p><p>So, assuming the question hasn't already been asked in NASCAR's corner offices, maybe it's time: What can be learned from Supercross? And more specifically, what ideas can be stolen? Both have that week-to-week continuity, and both are blessed with a variety of personalities and the requisite rivalries that develop naturally.</p><p>But there's a definite difference to “game day.” Supercross fits in perfectly with our ever-shortening attention spans. Two series, four heat races, a pair of “last chance qualifiers,” two main events. All in a three-hour window, give or take. </p><p>Would it serve big-league auto racing to steal such a recipe? When you look at overall national numbers – including those all-important network payouts – it would be best to leave things as they are. But as for fan engagement and passion – also all-important because that eventually plays a big role in those network payouts – it's worth the discussion. </p><p> --------------------</p><p><i>Don't forget your “Daily Willie” among the blogs at News-Journalonline.com</i></p>